Yvette Nicole Brown's Date Diary

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Dating Ambush With Yvette Nicole Brown

Single in the City

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We have all seen her bright smile on commercial spots and television sitcoms. So when Yvette Nicole Brown, star of the new NBC comedy “Community,” stopped by the ESSENCE office in New York City, we decided to set her up on her first blind date. See photos of the outing and find out what life’s like for a curvy brown girl in Hollywood.

Pop Quiz

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Yvette puts her dating skills to the test by taking a relationships quiz in a previous issue of ESSENCE. Her answers revealed she was good at gauging a man’s interest. We also reminded her not to settle for one guy until he makes the move to be exclusive.

What to Wear

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Fresh off her appearance on “The Wendy Williams Show,” Yvette contemplates a quick wardrobe change with editors at ESSENCE. We vote she continue to work the colorful dress she’s wearing, which she picked up from Macy’s in Manhattan. It seemed like a better fit for Brown’s bubbly personality.

Date Tip: We’ve all gotten comfortable dressing up jeans, but for a first date consider wearing a dress or skirt. Embrace your femininity.

Beauty Finds

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The ESSENCE beauty team supplied Yvette with some fun goodies for her afternoon date. She wore her own fragrance, a light oil she wouldn’t give the name of but described it as an affordable find you can purchase around town.

I'm Glossy

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While in New York to promote her new show “Community,” Yvette stayed with good friend Sherri Shepherd. “The View” cohost loaned Yvette her gold-toned bracelet for good luck and to also spice up her look.

I Am Not My Hair

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Yvette continues to embrace her natural hair in the entertainment world—and doesn’t plan on changing for a man.

“Though I have encountered men who want me to straighten my hair, I take that as a sign that they can’t be my guy,” she says. “My guy, the one God has sent for me, will love me as I am… and I have curly hair.”

The Skin I'm In

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Yvette is proud to show another side of beauty on her new sitcom “Community,” airing Thursdays on NBC.

“With women like Queen Latifah, Mo’Nique, Chandra Wilson, and hopefully, me working in the industry, we’re starting to see more ‘normal-sized’ women alongside the tiny ones,” she says. “That way little girls can see women that look like them and not feel pressured to starve themselves to fit some unrealistic ideal.”

Embracing Life

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Yvette arrives first for the date at Bobby Van’s Restaurant in midtown New York City. She has a few words for fellow voluptuous women.

“We curvy girls need to remember that hips and boobs and such are what women are supposed to have. We are the softer sex,” she says. “We were designed by God this way. I’m not advocating being unhealthy, but being a size 14 or 16 is not a horrible thing!”

It's Showtime

Nice to Meet You

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Yvette and Mo share a quick hug before sitting down for an early dinner.

“He reminded me of Cleveland, and that’s the highest compliment I can pay a man,” she laughs. “Midwestern guys have their own look, their own swagger. He had that. I liked that. He’s also creative and intelligent!”